Subject-Verb Agreement Flashcards
Conjugate the sentence.
Each of these suggestions (to be) interesting.
Each of these suggestions is interesting.
Each is singular and so it requires a singular verb.
Conjugate the sentence.
Either your mother or dad (to need) to contact me.
Either your mother or dad needs to contact me.
When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by “or” or “nor”, use a singular verb.
Conjugate the sentence.
The teacher or the students (to write) homework on the board.
The teacher or the students write homework on the board.
When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by
or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is closer to the verb (also
called the rule of proximity).
Conjugate the sentence.
The students or the teacher (to write) homework on the board.
The students or the teacher writes homework on the board.
When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by
or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is closer to the verb (also
called the rule of proximity).
What is a collective noun?
It’s a word that imply more than one person but is considered singular and take singular verb.
eg: family, group, team, class, committee.
My family is very big.
Conjugate the sentence:
John and Carol (to work) together at the coffee shop.
John and Carol work together at the coffee shop.
Use a plural verb when the subject of the sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and.
Conjugate the sentence:
No one (to want) to work 16 hours a day.
No one wants to work 16 hours a day.
No one is considerate singular.
Conjugate the sentence:
There (to be) a lot of people waiting in line.
There are a lot of people waiting in line.
Note the subject-verb agreement with words that indicate portions (eg a lot, a majority, some, all):
if the noun after “of” is singular use a singular verb and vice versa.
Underline the correct word in the following sentences.
The aim of the researches was/were to find life on Mars.
The aim of the researches was to find life on Mars.
Aim is third person singular.
Underline the correct word in the following sentences.
The group meet/meets every other week.
The group meets every other week.
Group is a collective noun.
Underline the correct word in the following sentences.
My cousins and my brother don’t/doesn’t know how to cook.
My cousins and my brother don’t know how to cook.
When the subject of the sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected
by the conjunction and, use a plural verb.
Underline the correct word in the following sentences.
Nobody master/masters a language without making mistakes.
Nobody masters a language without making mistakes.
Nobody is considered singular.
Underline the correct word in the following sentences.
Neither Sarah nor I am/are going to college this year.
Neither Sarah nor I am going to college this year.
When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular
verb.
Underline the correct word in the following sentences.
I, as well as my friends, am/are excited about the upcoming trip to Vegas.
I, as well as my friends, am excited about the upcoming trip to Vegas.
Note that information within parenthesis and accompanied by phrases like “as well as” do
not count as part of the subject.
Underline the correct word in the following sentences.
The jury has/have finally reached a decision.
The jury has finally reached a decision.
Jury is a collective noun.
